Myrtus

It grows relatively slowly, for a year depending on the variety can increase by 10-15 cm.

Lifespan

Perennial

Temperature

Summer prefers room temperature, in the heat can dump leaves, in winter it is desirable to cool at a temperature of 37,4-41 ° F.

Humidity

High, it is desirable to spray the plant periodically. In dry air, leaves fall, in winter, when kept in warm conditions, it is also necessary to spray.

Lighting

A sunny place with a slight shade. If there is insufficient light, the myrtle will not bloom. Under conditions of scattered light, the leaves are more juicy, but the bloom is weak.

The soil

Ready-made rich weakly acidic soil general purpose. Soil homemade take: 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part of moist peat or humus (leaf ground). Good drainage and a pot with a hole is required.

Watering

Watering with soft water in summer once a week, but very abundantly, and in winter every 8-10 days. The substrate should dry slightly between waterings. However, with strong drying, it is possible that the leaves fall off.

Fertilizer

From spring to autumn every 3-4 weeks with complex fertilizer without lime. It is good to use organic fertilizers.

Reproduction

The apical cuttings at a soil temperature of 77 ° F. Cuttings 7-8 cm long cut from the side shoots, or 5-6 cm long – from the main non-flowering shoot. The lower leaves are cut off, the cut is processed with corn root. Plant cuttings in a mixture of peat and sand and cover with a film. Root at room temperature. Cuttings take root in 2-3 weeks, after which they are planted separately. It can be easily spread by seeds, but they germinate for a long time. They are sown to the surface of the substrate from peat and sand, the top is lightly sprinkled with soil, covered with polyethylene and germinated in scattered light at a temperature of not less than 69,8 ° F. It is timely to form the crown, pinching the sprout at the correct height.Young plants bloom on the 2nd-3rd year.

Bloom

In the late spring there are white fragrant flowers. In place of flowers, myrtle develops dark blue or white pleasant berries.

Transfer

Young – every year, as far as braiding the roots of an earthy coma, in the spring, as soon as young leaves appear. Pick a fairly deep pot, 2-3 cm more than the previous in diameter. Adult myrtle plants are transplanted every 2-3 years. When transplanting, the root neck can not be buried.

Features of care

For the summer it is good to take the plant in the garden. The plant does not like drafts. Winter can lose some of the leaves. Requires regular pruning in the spring and pinching, especially small-leaved forms. Myrtle is very easy to form. For example, it is often grown in the form of a stump tree, cutting off the side shoots until the plant reaches the desired height. After this, cut off the tip and begin to form a spherical crown, continuing to remove the lower lateral shoots. Sometimes a tree is formed from several cuttings of myrtle, which are fastened together by a thin wire.

Difficulties

Shocked aphids and aphids, whitefly and spider mites. With the penetration of the root neck, rotting of the roots is possible: the plant withers, the base of the stem decays (unfortunately, it is impossible to cure the plant in this case). The stems are lengthened, and the leaves turn pale with a lack of light. Direct sunlight can lead to tarnishing of leaves, twisting their edges. In winter, rapid loss of leaves is most often associated with a warm content in the waterlogged soil with a lack of light. To reduce the loss of leaves, it is better to keep the plant in winter in cool conditions. A little help and frequent spraying. In general, the causes of leaf dropping in myrtle can be very different: dry air, lack of light, improper irrigation – both excessive and inadequate.

Air cleaning

Myrtle contains essential oils that help purify the air from pathogens.